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TV shows make a splash with Beck

Each weekday, ESPN RISE brings you five vital stats from athletes across the country.

Our attentions turned to the pool this summer as we watched Michael Phelps swim for a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics. The media coverage showed the action in the water but didn't clue us in to the hours of downtime between the morning and evening sessions. Hockaday (Dallas) senior Spindrift Beck, a talented breaststroker who competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials over the summer, spends her time away from the pool in her hotel watching TV. Beck is a TV fanatic with an eclectic taste in programming, and she shares her five favorite shows with ESPN RISE.

1. "Judging Amy"
"I wanted to be a judge when this show came on, so I just fell in love with it. When they cancelled it, I used to write letters to CBS asking them to bring it back or to at least make a TV-movie out of it."

2. "Lost"
"It's a lot different than most of what's on TV. It's sort of a thinking-man's show. It got me interested in some things I wouldn't have known about otherwise -- the philosophers and the history. It can be frustrating to watch at times, but it's definitely one of a kind."

3. "The Office"
"Awesome show. I like the awkward humor. I like what they've done with Jim and Pam. I think it's so realistic and funny."

4. "Prison Break"
"For some reason December always seems to be a really brutal month of training, and I remember we used to come home from morning practices during school vacation, watch about five episodes of 'Prison Break,' and then take naps and go back for evening practice. It's a really intense, gripping show."

5. "Bones"
"No real reason for liking this show other than it seems like it's always on and it's easy to watch. It's just a cute little show, and they have their romantic thing, and it's all neatly tied up at the end. It's fun to watch."